Depressing endings — Page 4

Golden Boy

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I found Aida (they meet in another world and ARE together in the end before that) and Les Miserables (hard to explain) is bittersweet and uplifting in a sad way. West Side Story, as well - because people ARE united, even though it took a tragedy. But perhaps I'm just a silly romantic optimist.

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Les Miserables definitely has an overall depressing aura, but is the ending itself truly depressing? Yes, Valjean dies, but he's an old man, and Fantine and Eponine come to take his soul, so to speak. I think the audience generally assumes that Cossette and Marius will have a happy marriage together.

Whoever mentioned Chess -- now THAT ending is sad all around.

Miss Saigon breaks my heart into pieces whenever I see it.

I agree with whomever said "Follies". The one production I saw, Ben started hitting himself and slapping himself during the breakdown in "Live, Laugh, Love". I started getting choked up, especially his wails that he did. His "PHYLLIS!" sent shivers down my spine. It is a sad ending because Ben realizes that Phyllis only loved him for what he once had: money. Sally discovers things about Buddy. Even though all the young and old versions of the characters are back together, it's only for a sad reason: their theater being turned into a parking lot.

Ok, to people who say that Aida has a depressing ending, did you all walk out before the show ended? Yes, they die in the tomb. But that's not the end of the show.

Here is a description.

As they are in the tomb, Radames swears that "even if I have to search a thousand lifetimes, I will find you again." They sing:

Radames:

There'll be no ties of time and space
To bind us

Aida:

And no horizon we could not pursue

Both:

We'll leave the world's misfortunes far behind us
And I will put my faith and trust in you.

and the stage screens close around them. Stars are projected onto the screens and Amneris appears wearing the outfit she was in at the beginning of the show. She sings:

From deep within the tomb
A gentle light still shone
Showing me my path
As I ascended to the throne
Certain in my heart that ancient wars must cease
The lovers' deaths gave birth
To a reign of peace
And their story
And my journey
And the lesson they provide
Draw their strength and inspiration
From a love that never dies.

The screens open and we are back in the museum. The man and woman from the beginning are once again drawn to the tomb. Unless the entire audience slept through the beginning, they realize that the man and woman are reincarnations of Aida and Radames. They walk towards each other and look in each other's eyes. They have found each other.

Does that sound depressing?

I saw this on Broadway and then I saw it twice at a regional theatre. That time around, two kids played the reincarnated Aida and Radames.

I hardly think that two people finding each other after eternities apart is a depressing ending. It's a lot more hopeful than anything.

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^that's true about Aida actually :) even though it IS still really depressing because they die, its rather amazing and uplifting in the very end- because I mean, they're basically kinda being reincarnated! AND the history of Egypt got much better from that point on. So yeah, it kind of softens the blow of the fact that they both died and how tragic that is. You still walked out of that theater feeling really sad though

Ok, now to get back on topic:
Les Miz, without a doubt. THE saddest, most depressing ending I have ever seen. And yet, its not like its a turn off or anything. Its actually a big part of what makes the show so amazing. You are FOREVER destroyed by its sadness at the end

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My opinion for the saddest was definitly Urinetown - I mean sad, yet very much what I expected from that. The good guys take over, and then the whole town goes to hell. Poor Hope Cladwell...kinda felt bad for her a little.

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